JB: You've gotten a lot of positive news coverage. Do many people wander by? Is this a trend that's liable to spread even further?
TP: I see people in the alley taking pictures. One family used one of the doors as a backdrop to their Christmas card. Since the Stay at Home Order, I think people are walking more and making the alley their destination. I hope it becomes a trend. Anyone or any group can paint a garage. The alleys are wasted spaces. A neighbor suggested we put flower pots and chairs in our alley and let the kids use it as a playground. Everyone would know this and be extremely careful when driving.
JB: Interesting idea! I'm assuming you have other art projects going on that don't involve garages. Can you give us an idea of what you're up to?
TP: Every day during "Stay at Home", I go to the beach and collect beach glass. I'm going to use it to make a mosaic about the virus.
I'm also working on a picture book with stories, called "The Patron Saint of Bright Colors". My aunt's lifelong partner was a great storyteller. She made the ordinary, exciting. She taught me to never be content or even endure the mundane. I think I am an artist because of her. She also taught me to tell a story or two. The book is some of her stories and some of mine. This is the cover.
cover for picture book with stories, called 'The Patron Saint of Bright Colors'
(Image by courtesy of Teresa Parod) Details DMCA
JB: Can't wait to get my hands on your book; it sounds terrific! Anything you'd like to add before we wrap this up?
TP: My husband, Bill Parod is developing an Augmented Reality (AR) mobile app that adds prepared 3D soundart and visual scenes to selected works of public visual art. He has done this for six of my pieces, including five of the alley murals.
Here's a page from his website that has video captures of the scenes and descriptions of the AR pieces: https://www.earful.be/mural-sound-art.
JB: I'm sure many of our readers will want to check that out. Wild! I love the one of your own home with your kids dancing and music playing. Thanks so much for talking with me, Teresa, and for using your art to enhance the neighborhood. You're a local treasure!
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Teresa's website
News coverage about Teresa's art:
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, JANUARY 3, 2020
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